Head protective cap device for athletes



Nov. 25, 1958 R. McCOY HEAD PROTECTIVE CAP DEVICE FOR ATHLETES ment INVENTOR. ROBERT MC COY l 8Mb@ ATTORNEY `temple, within a baseball cap.

, s 2,861,270 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 HEAD PROTECTIVE CAP DEVICE FOR ATHLETES Robert McCoy, New York, N. Y.

Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,619

3 claims. (ci. 2 3) The present invention relates generally to protective devices for athletes, and more particularly has regard to a baseball cap which, when worn by a player, will provide maximum protection against the eects of blows received on the head.

The present invention constitutes an improvement on the device covered in U. S. Patent 2,607,036, issued to me on August 19, 1952.

It is well known that baseball players are subject to receiving serious head injuries, this being particularly true when a player is batting. In many instances, a pitched ball will be directed at the head of the batter. Considering the tremendous speed at which a pitched ball is thrown in many instances, it often happens that the batter does not have time to dodge the pitch, and is struck upon the temple or elsewhere upon the head. Particularly vulnerable areas are those just above the ears, and across the forehead.

The main object of the present invention, in View of the above, is to provide a generally improved protective device of the character hereinbefore referred to, which will embody maximum protection for the forehead and In accordance with the invention, the protective device is incorporated directly in the cap construction, so that when the cap is worn, protection will be automatically provided for the player.

Another object is to provide a protective device of the character described so designed as to permit adjustment of protective side pads, forwardly or rearwardly along the temples. In this way, it is proposed to permit the player to locate the protective side pads wherever they are preferred by. him. Further, the adjustment permits the pads to be moved away from the ears at such times as the batter is not actually at bat, so as not to impair the players hearing in any way.

A further object is to so attach the side pads to the the side pads to be retained in each position to which they are adjusted, while at the same time permitting their swift adjustment to another position whenever desired.

Still another object is to provide a combination cap and protector that will be adapted for manufacture at a relatively low cost, and will be simply designed in a manner to make maximum utilization of inexpensive cushioning material such as foam rubber.

Yet another object is to provide a combination cap and protector that will be comfortable when worn, while still providing the fullest possible amount of, protection for the user.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a combination cap and protector according to the present invention, as it appears when worn.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail section transversely through one side of the cap and protector, substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the side pad being illustrated in one position to which it is adjustable.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3A with the attaching clamps of the side pad shifted to a releasing position to permit adjustment of the side pad to another position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view in which the cap portion has been partly broken away to illustrate the head protector.

The combination baseball cap and head and temple protector according to the present invention has been generally designated 10, and includes a cap portion 12 having the usual bill 14. The cap portion is basically conventional per se, comprising a plurality of segmentalv ly shaped pieces stitched together. The cap portion is formed slightly oversize so far as the particular wearer is concerned, to provide room for the head and temple protector 16. j

Referring to Fig. 5, protector 16 comprises a generally U-shaped, elongated, flexible, comparatively thick protector member of foam rubber, the legs of which are formed with elongated, closed longitudinal slots 18 (Figs. 3-5). Double lines of stitching20 are employed to secure the member 16 to the cap portion 12, in position extending along the inner surfaces of the front and sides of the cap. Thus, when the cap is worn, the member 16 overlies the temples and the forehead of the player, to provide maximum protection in the event a pitched ball strikes the wearers head.

Depending from the legs or side portions of the member 16 are protective side pads 21. These are also of foam rubber material, and are of a thickness substantially equal to that of the member 16.

Each side pad is so proportioned as to overlie the upper portion of the ear of the wearer. In this Way, protection for the particularly vulnerable area at or about the upper region of the ear is afforded. At the same time,

. however, the ability of the player to hear instructions is not impaired.

Cemented or otherwise xedly secured to the opposite faces of each side pad 21 are fiat clamp members 22, these main or body portion of the protective device as to cause being secured by cement 24 to said opposite faces of the side pad.

The clamp members 22, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, extend upwardly above the top edge of the associated side pad 21 and at their upper extremities are formed with confronting, inwardly directed lips 26 engaging in the slot 18.

When side pad 21 expands to its normal thickness as in Fig. 3, the clamp members 22 are disposed in parallel planes, in which th'e lips 26 thereof engage in the slot 18.

When, however, it is desired to adjust a side pad forwardly or rearwardly along the length of its associated leg or side portion of member 16, one need merely press the lower end portions of the members 22 toward each other in the manner shown in Fig. 4. As a result, the upper portions of the members 22 shift outwardly from one another, so as to no longer bear firmly against the opposite faces of the associated side portion of member 16.

With the members 22 pressed inwardly in this manner, one may shift pad 21 to a selected, different position.

It will be seen that the arrangement facilitates the rapid adjustment of the side pads to selected positions, according to the particular desires of the user. Further, the arrangement provides for maximum protection in the particularly vulnerable areas, while detractng to the minimum from the comfort which the player should have when the cap is being worn. Still further, the construction has the desirable characteristic of permitting incorporation of the protective device in a basically conventionalbaseball c'ap,-at arelatively low cost, thus adapting the device for manufacture and sale in quantity to baseball teams including not only major league teams, but also various amateur and school teams.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s: t t,

1. A combination cap and head and temple protector comprisingta cap member, a resilient protector member extending therein in position to protectively overlie the forehead and temples of a wearer, resilient side pads depending from the protector member, and means connecting the side pads to the protector member for adjustment along opposite sides of the protector member, said protector member being of U-shape, said means comprising clamp members secured to opposite faces of each side pad in position to engage the protector member, the protector member having along opposite sides thereof longitudinal slots, said clamp members engaging at their upper ends in the slots to effect the connection of the side pads to the protector member.

2. A combination cap and head and temple protector comprising a cap member, a resilient protector member vextending therein in position to protectively overlie the forehead and temples of a wearer, resilient side pads depending from the protector member, and means connecting the side pads to the protector member for adjustment along opposite sides of the protector member,

said protector member being of U-shape, said means comf' 'prising clamp members secured to opposite faces of each side pad in position to engage the protector member, the protector member having along opposite sides thereof longitudinal slots, said clamp members engaging' at their upper ends in the slots to effect the connection of the side pads to the protector member, the clamp members being normally disposed in parallel planes substantially common to the planes of the opposite faces of their associated side pads, the resiliency of the side pads expanding the side pads to normal thicknesses eifective to bias the clamp members to said planes thereof.

3. A combination cap and head and temple protector comprising a cap member, a resilient protector member extending therein in position to protectively overlie the forehead and temples of a wearer, resilient side pads depending from the protector member, and means connecting the side pads to the protector member for adjustment along opposite sides of the protector member, said protector member being of U-shape, said means comprising clamp members secured to opposite faces of each side pad in position to engage the protector member, the protector member having along opposite sides thereof longitudinal slots, said clamp members engaging at their upper ends in the slots to effect the connection of the side pads to the protector member, the clamp members being normally disposed in parallel planes substantially common to the planes of the opposite faces of their associated side pads, the resiliency of the side pads expanding the side pads to normal thicknesses effective to bias the clamp members to said planes thereof, said clamp members being formed at their upper ends with confronting lips engaging in the slots, the clamp members being shiftable away from o-ne another at their upper ends responsive to pressing of the lower ends of the clamp members toward each other against the restraint of the resilient side pads, thus to effect adjustment of the side pads to selected positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,315 Pierce Aug. 13, 1907 2,088,183 Watkins July 27, 1937 2,607,036 McCoy Aug. 19, 1952 

